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Let's refresh GCS

19/3/2016

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I listened to a really interesting talk by Mark Wilson (a prehospitalist and neurosurgeon in London) about the utility of GCS and whether it is time for us to reconsider our use of GCS in daily practice.

The history and application of the Glasgow Coma Scale is well described here, and worth a look for those who need to brush up on their knowledge. There is no doubt that by describing the GCS in 1974, Teasdale and Jennett made an amazing breakthrough in medical (neuro) science. They have managed to convert the multifaceted human brain functionality into a linear scale.

The GCS was initially intended for the assessment of coma and impaired consciousness in acute brain injury, but nowadays we are using it as a common language in many other situations - as an all cause mental status monitor. This is not necessarily wrong.

The GCS is now so fully ingrained in our practice, and we should not stop using it. I think we should be mindful of what it can't do, and perhaps consider some other forms of assessment to dive deeper into the complexity of human consciousness where needed. Adding the assessment of pupil response, ventilation and autonomic functions may just help.  I am sure we do this subconsciously on many occasions already.

​There is help out there - in the form of the FOUR score. (Full Outline of UnResponsiveness)
  1. Eye response (includes assessment of tracking when eyes are open)
  2. Motor response
  3. Brainstem reflexes (pupil and corneal reflexes)
  4. Respiration (breathing pattern)
It appears that FOUR scale had better predictive power for mortality and may be a suitable alternative or complementary tool for GCS.

At the very least, when assessing conscious levels - describe what you see, use the GCS, document the pupil response and perhaps 
 consider a more detailed examination using the principles of the FOUR score where indicated (not all patients!)
Further reading:
Mark wilson smacc talk
The Glasgow coma scale
http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern-medicine/content/more-meets-eye-four-score-scale-coma-assessment
Nanette
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Aye Aye, Captain

19/3/2016

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Ever struggled to reduce a dislocated hip prosthesis?
​
Who remembers climbing up on a patient's bed and using the Allis manoeuvre to reduce a hip?
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GEMS March 2016 - WDWLT?

18/3/2016

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Session 1: Audit presentation / Case Presentation

RCEM audit - Vital signs in Children
Sets of vital signs consist of: temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry, level of consciousness expressed as Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) or AVPU (alert, response to voice, responsive to pain or unresponsive) scale, and capillary refill time.

Vital signs are frequently recorded in children presenting at Emergency Departments because, if abnormal, they indicate that a patient has deranged physiology. This derangement is often indicative of a disease process and associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The detection of abnormal vital signs, appropriate escalation and response can avoid the patients' deterioration and improve patient outcomes. 

LEARNING POINT: we should encourage vital sings to be documented on dedicated paediatric observation charts, which will help calculate the PEWS and spot the sick child.

Case Presentation: scrotal pain in a young boy
​"I am always asking myself: “Why is it NOT testicular torsion?” If I can’t answer that satisfactorily, that boy is going to theatre." ... so refer to the surgeons from ED!

Differential diagnosis of acute testicular pain in a boy
Torsion of:
  • spermatic cord (testicular torsion)
  • testicular appendage
  • epididymis
Infection:
  • epididymitis (viral or bacterial)
  • orchitis
  • cellulitis
Trauma:
  • blunt (e.g., sports injury)
  • sexual abuse
Other:
  • hernia
  • hydrocele
  • testicular tumour
  • vasculitis (e.g., Henoch–Schönlein purpura)
  • noninfectious/chemical epididymitis
  • abnormality in vas deferens or ejaculatory duct
  • idiopathic scrotal oedema
Links to further reading
Painful testicle in a young boy
Saving balls: the acute scrotum
Testicular Torsion: Pearls and Pitfalls - (emdocs)

Session 2: Decompensated liver disease

There is now a care bundle for patients who present with decompensated liver disease - please print this and follow treatment guidelines.
Diagnostic ascitic tap technique

Session 3: Major incident refresher

This topic is part of the FRCEM curriculum ( HAP 20)

Definition: 
- any incident that requires an extraordinary response from health services – ambulance services, primary care, community services and hospital Trusts
Classification:
- Natural or manmade
- Simple or compound
- Compensated or uncompensated.
All hazards approach : every incident is different, but the solution are the same
Major incident response principles : CSCATTT
Triage
Picture
Picture
​Terminology:
- Major incident standby
- Major incident declared
- Major incident stand down


Know where your department's plan is (or at least a summary that you can access quickly)

​
Read your action card from time to time
Links to further reading
​Major incidents part 1
​Major incidents part 2
Take home points from a HMIMMS course
Nanette
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